A leader is responsible to recruit people to use their gifts in an effort to serve a corporate vision. But there's more to it. As leaders, we must personally serve the unique dreams that God is birthing in the hearts of our people.

Our dream should be to see people in our organizations accomplish their own dreams.

Isn't this what it means to equip God's people for works of service?

Yesterday I met with a retired couple in our church. My purpose was to recruit them to lead a ministry in our church. But God had something better in mind. We ended up talking about their dreams for retirement. The conversation was fulfilling--and energizing!

Are you working hard to staff your ministries? Take it up a notch, and begin working to release your ministers.

September 21, 2009

Great weekend! Yesterday was the highlight as Leah turned 30! The church was so encouraging to her in the morning. And then last night we had a celebration at my parent's house.

The news is bound to get out, so I guess I'll get ahead of the story. It's true. Psalty the singing songbook made an appearance. If you don't have any idea who Psalty is, don't worry about it. (Feel free to ignore the rest of this post).

Psatly came back from the future, where he's made quite a comeback. In fact, he told us that last week he was the opening act at the VMA Awards. Apparently, he's good friends with our daughter Gabriella. So he utilized the latest in time travel technology to visit Leah's party and read a letter that 25 year old Gabriella had written.

Leah loved it. And at the end of the presentation, she even got a kiss from Psalty--on the lips! Scandalous! I'll see if we can get the video posted later today.

Nothing beats pleasing the people you love the most! Leah, I love you. Happy birthday!

September 16, 2009

Eight years ago today we opened the doors of Church of the King for the first time. It was five days after my 23rd birthday. It was also five days after extremists attacked the World Trade Center. It was the birth of a dream that God put in my heart as a middle school teenager.

I continue to feel honored by the adventure God has called me to live. Churches planted. Lives changed. It's been my joy to serve Metro Detroit alongside so many committed leaders.

Tonight we're throwing a birthday party for the church. We've got a lot to celebrate!

I'm reading Francis Chan's new book, Forgotten God. I don't know of anyone today who pushes harder against status quo Christianity than he does. For those of you with a little history, he's like the Leonard Ravenhill of our day. I can only read a chapter at a time because I've got to pause to reflect and repent.

I love the analogy he makes from the mind of the caterpillar.

Years ago, when a random thought came into my head, I decided to share it with my wife. "Have you ever wondered what caterpillars think about?" I asked. Not surprisingly, she said, "No."

I then proceeded to tell her about the confusion I imagined a caterpillar must experience. For all its caterpillar life, it crawls around a small patch of dirt and up and down a few plants. Then one day it takes a nap. A long nap. And then, what in the world must go through its head when it wakes up to discover it can fly? What happened to its dirty, plump little worm body? What does it think when it sees its tiny new body and gorgeous wings?

As believers, we ought to experience this same kind of astonishment when the Holy Spirit enters our bodies. We should be stunned in disbelief over becoming a "new creation" with the Spirit living in us. As the caterpillar finds its new ability to fly, we should be thrilled over our Spirit-empowered ability to live differently and faithfully. Isn't this what the Scriptures speak of? Isn't this what we've all been longing for?

September 10, 2009

September 09, 2009

Today I'm trying to catch as much of The Nines as I can. The Nines is really a creative church leadership conference sponsored by Leadership Network. It's all online, and a day packed with over 70 presenters, sharing nine minute leadership lessons one right after the other. It's like drinking from a fire-hydrant! Oh, and totally free!Check it out!